Voters in the coastal city of Pattaya have been going to the polls since 8am this morning to elect a new mayor and 24 city councillors, who will serve four-year terms.
Three candidates are contesting the mayoral election: Athiwat Wattanasartsathorn, Paramet Ngampichet and Sakchai Tanghoh.
Voters have been streaming into polling stations across the city's four constituencies, covering the four subdistricts of Bang Lamung district. A total of 82,736 residents are eligible to vote.
Two ballot papers are being used: a green ballot for mayor and a pink ballot for city councillors.
Pattaya is the country's second special local administrative body after Bangkok. Neither falls under the jurisdiction of local administrative organisations or provincial administrative organisations overseen by the Interior Ministry.
The city was established under the Pattaya City Administration Act B.E. 2521 (1978), with jurisdiction over Bang Lamung district.
A new law enacted in 1999 established the city's current administrative structure. Although elected by residents, the mayor is also required to carry out duties assigned by the cabinet, the prime minister, the interior minister and the Chon Buri governor.
